DEFENCE NOTES.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXXVI, Issue 3979, 9 July 1913, Page 7

DEFENCE NOTES.

THE WELLINGTON CONFERENCE

NEW SCHEME OF TRAINING

'A military official who had been attending the Musketry Conference in Wellington, gave a very lucid and instructive report of the results achieved, adding some interesting comment. “The Conference,” he said, “was between the four district musketry instructors, Captain Wallingford, Lieutenants Henderson and Rose, and Ser-geant-Major Purdon. The work of the past year was discussed, and an effort made to obviate the many disadvantages under which they had labored. A good practical scheme for the current year was drawn up. Having worked in that branch of the defence scheme for twelve months they were ully acquainted with the many difficulties, and being musketry men by inclination and choice, as well as tarining, they can now see their way clear to make things run more easily than before. They recognised it would not do to cut down the annual allowance of ammunition, as while some men found it a hardship to fire the 100 rounds, there were many enthusiasts amongst the Territorials who were only too pleased to use it all. Therefore, they will stick to the present issue of 100 rounds each to. all Territorials, Cadets, and meinbers of rifle clubs.

“The course has been so formed as to meet the shorter time the members of technical branches have available, such as engineers, artillery, and signal corps, who must fire at least twenty rounds. Some members of the technical branches argue that in battle they would never be called upon to fire a rifle in action. Iff they read themselves truly they would know how false this is. No matter to which

branch a man belongs in war, there

will be times when he must be able to protect himself. Again, every man at times has to be thrown into the firing line. As an instance, when Lord Kitchener was after General De Wet, he put all the large guns aside and made all infantry. This is only one of the reasons why the technical troops should be trained in musketry. The difficulty of the time they take by their special training has been met by attaching Senior Cadets to the technical corps, so that as the lads are grouped in the special work beFo'-e they are posted to the Territoria.s they have more time to spare for shooting. “As regards the course itself, the infantry, mounted troops, senior cadets, and compulsory members of rifle clubs will fire the 100 rounds as Follows :—First practice, five rounds at one aim to endeavor to group their shots within four inches at 25 yards or 12 at 100 yards. If they cannot do this, they are not allowed to go farther, repeat the practice until they reach that standard. This is to make sure that the ammunition supplied shall not be wasted. The next practice is five rounds at a tarce r . with a brown figure. This is to f -ach them to apply their fire to a fixed mark.

“At this point they will start to hvstii- the future marksman. The modem training of the soldier is to hustle him. At first he is made to go steadily, and then hustled until he drops into what the French call reflex actions. This means that from doing one thing he shall be able to turn suddenly to another without thought. Mechanically, all men who have seen service will tell you that in action all is done mechanically. In the next stage the men shoot at a target resembling a man shooting at him, and this target appears for six seconds, and if he does not get his shot in that time he may forfeit it. But if the company officer is wise he will give him many trials in order to let him get his shot rather than waste or forfeit his ammunition. The fourth practice is a further advance in hustle. The man lias to load his rifle with five cartridges and fire at a target in 45 seconds, nine seconds a shot, but the charging of the rifle reduces tli 3 considerably. “Having advanced so far he is considered worthy to go forward for his classification tests'as to whether he is fit for a marksman’s badge, or to be recognised as qualified for service. The first practice is the repetition of the first in grouping. The second practice is at the same target as in number two, but he must get the shots in five seconds, failure to do so entailing forfeiture of ammunition. There is no appeal against this forfeiture, as it is a test. The third test is a very hard one for a citizen soldier who has not the training of a regular at 200 yards. He has to fire ten shots in one minute with the short rifle. He lias to charge the rifle within the time limit, but with the long rifle five cartridges may be put in before the time starts. This is because the short rifle has a charger, while the long one has not. The last practice is application practice (shooting from cover) at 500 yards with regulation target, or if at 25yds with target reduced to scale. To be a marksman 75 points must be obtained, and to qualify 50 points. The possible is 105 points. “In the above course the man uses only 45 rounds, but 15 rounds are allowed him for practice. Twenty rounds are at the disposition of the captain for the benefit of indifferent shots. This is in accordance with the policy approved, as experience lias taught the authorities that an army of good average shots is better than one with some who are exceptionally good, and a majority who are not average shots. The remaining 20 shots will be expended in field practice, so that the men may develop in firo discipline, the non-coms, in fire contrql, and the officers in fire control. “Another innovation is that in order to meet the requirements of the 25yd 1 range, four sorts of targets have been sealed as approved in New Zealand. Target No. lis 12in by 12in, with tho figure of a man in Hie cnetre. For tho practice of grouping, No. 2 is Gin by Gin, as in uso at present. No. 3is 4in by 4in, with head and rings reduced in proportion, as the target for 500yds. No. 4is about the size a man appears at 200yds. For the large targets, the Director of Stdres has received from England a consignment of target faces Gin by Gin

and' 4in by 4in, already printed in colors, as required. Thirty thousand rifles are on the way out, and they will be issued to Senior Cadets. Maxim training has not been neglected. A thousand rounds will be fired by each detachment, and those who are in reserve for use, should they be required to work the gun, will fire 170 rounds per man. The sergeant corporal and men of each detachment will all be trained in the use of /the rifle.”

THE TERRITORIALS AND RIFLE

CLUBS

Captain Robinson, N.Z.S.C., speaking at Palmerston North the other evening, made some remarks which are of special interest to clubmen. Referring to the posting of Territorials to rifle clubs, he said that, in spite of all that had been said and done, there are still remained an extraordinary amount of ignorance as regards the defence scheme. In that particular sub-district 311 cadets who had reached the age of 18 would be posted to rifle clubs. Of these 311 cadets, 154 would be posted to rifle clubs in that particular area,‘which extended from Palmerston North to Waikanae. The exact number the Linton Club would receive Captain Robinson did not know, but it would be between 40 and 60. The Department did not require very much of the old club memliers in respect of the newly posted lads. Their assistance was only wanted on the rifle range, when they were expected to coach the lads in shooting. A tremendous amount of good would be done in this way. The speaker knew of! some lads who could not hit a Gin square target at 25 yards, and the only way to improve such men was to go down on the mound beside them. Continuing, Captain Robinson stated that the clubs had nothing to do with the training of these lads. Under the Act they had to put in 18 parades a year, but these would be with the Territorials. These newlyposted members might become honorary members of the club, and reap all the benefits to be so derived. He thought it would be a good plan for the various clubs t 6 fix a smaller fee for the lads. People did not recognise in connection with the new defence scheme that a great deal of patience had to be exercised. Considering that, the scheme had only been in operation two years last April, a wonderful amount had been done. Nobody had any idea of the difficulties that had to be overcome in inaugurating this scheme.